UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Siachen Glacier, presbyopia and more (Week 75)

Statement 1: In India, the cases of antimicrobial resistance are continuously increasing.

Statement 2: Common pathogens are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Explanation

— Ahead of the September 26 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization published its first-ever guidance on antibiotic pollution from manufacturing last week.

— “The emergence and spread of AMR (antimicrobial resistance) caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites…,” the WHO said on September 3.

— AMR is a condition in which a pathogen can survive and cause infection despite the presence of an antimicrobial treatment. AMR is the result of microbial evolution in response to antibiotic abuse or overuse.

— Excessive use of antimicrobial medications can result in resistant or extremely resistant superbugs that can spread in hospitals, drinking water, and sewers. These microorganisms produce infections that do not respond to regularly recommended antibiotics.

— A survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reveals that AMR is on the rise throughout the country. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— “…Common pathogens are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. This increase has been noted despite the fact that the number of samples and the centres at which we carry out surveillance has remained the same over the years,” Dr Kamini Walia, one of the authors of the recently released ICMR annual report on Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network (January-December 2023), said. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Which of the following pairs of Himalayan Glaciers and their location is/are correctly matched?

Himalayan Glacier	Location
Siachen	Nubra Valley Region
Chungphar	Kumaon-Garhwal Region
Zemu	Central Nepal Region
Gasherbrum	Pir Panjal range

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (UPSC-CSD (II) – 2024)

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

Note: The aspirants should also refer to the questions from other competitive exams conducted by the UPSC which might be useful for UPSC–CSE.

Explanation

— On the 40th anniversary of Operation Meghdoot, the Indian Army’s occupation of the heights around the Siachen Glacier in 1984, it is appropriate to remember the heroic efforts of the band of soldiers who were the first to march on foot from the Base Camp to Sia La and raise the Indian Tricolour.

— Lt Col NS Salaria, then a senior Major with 14 years of service, led a column of soldiers from the snout of the Siachen Glacier at 12,000 feet to Sia La Pass at 22,000 feet, where they met troops dropped by helicopters in the first wave of operations by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) to occupy the Siachen Glacier.

Himalayan Glacier	Location
Siachen	Nubra Valley Region
Chungphar	Gilgit-Baltistan region
Zemu	Sikkim (near Kangchenjunga)
Gasherbrum	Karakoram mountain range

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the presbyopia, consider the following statements:

1. It is a condition in which the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects.

2. It is prevalent in children.

3. Progressive lenses are used to correct this condition.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

— Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has announced that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) — the country’s apex drug regulator — has approved its new eye drop, which has been “specifically developed to reduce dependency on reading glasses for individuals affected by presbyopia.”

— Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— People usually start to develop presbyopia at around the age of 40. According to doctors, spectacles are one of the most effective ways to manage the condition. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Presbyopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, progressive lenses, medication, or surgery. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

How does PresVu work?

— The active ingredient — chemical compounds in medicines that have an effect on the body — in PresVu is pilocarpine. The compound contracts the iris muscles, which control the size of the pupil and help humans see things clearly, thereby enabling one’s eyes to focus better on nearby objects, according to Entod Pharmaceuticals.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the types of cloud, consider the following pairs:

Type of cloud	Description
Nimbus	Formed at an altitude of 8000-12000 m and are always white in colour.
Stratus	These clouds are generally formed either due to loss of heat or the mixing of air masses with different temperatures.
Cumulus	They exist in patches and can be seen scattered here and there
Cirrus	These clouds form near the surface and are usually black or grey in colour

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

Explanation

— A cloud is a mass of minute water droplets or ice crystals generated by the condensation of water vapour in open air at high altitudes.

— Clouds are classified into four categories based on their height, expanse, density, and transparency or opaqueness:

(i) Cirrus: These clouds form at high altitudes (8,000–12,000 metres). They are thin, detached clouds with a feathery look. They are always white in colour.

(ii) Cumulus: These clouds resemble cotton yarn. They are often created at elevations of 4,000 – 7,000 metres. They exist in patches and can be found dispersed around. They have a flat base.

(iii) Stratus: These are layered clouds that cover enormous areas of the sky. These clouds are often created as a result of heat loss or the mixing of air masses of varying temperatures.

(iv) Nimbus: The clouds are black or dark grey. They form at intermediate elevations or near the earth’s surface. These are incredibly dense and opaque to the sun’s beams. Sometimes the clouds are so low that they appear to touch the ground. Nimbus clouds are shapeless blobs of dense vapour.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. It is the farthest planet from Earth discovered by the unaided human eye.

2. It is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

3. It is tilted at an angle of 26.73 degrees and takes about 29.4 Earth years to complete a single orbit of the Sun.

The above mentioned statements refer to which planet of the Solar System?

(a) Jupiter

(b) Neptune

(c) Saturn

(d) Uranus

Explanation

— Every 13 to 15 years, the edge of Saturn’s rings aligns directly with Earth. This is what will happen in March 2025 when only the edges of the ring will be visible from our planet.

— Saturn, which is inclined at an angle of 26.73 degrees, takes approximately 29.4 Earth years to complete one orbit of the Sun. This means that during half of a Saturn year (about 15 years), the gas giant is inclined towards the Sun while the other half is tilted away. Its rings are also slanted at the same angle, and when the planet circles, they appear to change orientation when seen from Earth.

— Saturn is a huge ball composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Saturn, the furthest planet discovered by the unaided human eye, has been known since antiquity. The planet is named for the Roman deity of agriculture and abundance, who was also the father of Jupiter

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: science.nasa.gov)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 75)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 74)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 74)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 74)

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